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The oak tree would stand as a tribute to the men who lost their lives at the hands of the Japanese during the Second World War.

Mr Fearnley said at the time: "I heard on the radio about the planting of the tree in memory of those killed at Hiroshima. I knew something about how our prisoners were treated by the Japanese, and wanted a tree planted in their memory."

So after four months of planning and corresponding with those who had escaped.

In mid-December 1982, Mr Fearnley was amongst those who arranged a tree planting ceremony in People's Park.

Taking charge of matters on the day was Captain David Chandler of the 7th Battalion, the Royal Anglians, based at the Westward Ho barracks.

December 14, 1982: Veterans and ex-prisoners of war with the planted tree, along with the Deputy Mayor of Grimsby, Councillor Roy Cheeseman who laid the first shovel of soil. Sidney Stevens attended the ceremony and he is pictured rear, 3rd left (Image: Grimsby Telegraph)

Some 200 surviving POWs came from all over the region including Scunthorpe, Barton, Doncaster and even Bridlington to watch the ceremony.

Seventeen former prisoners stepped forward, each scattering soil over the tree roots.

What is the relevance to Grimsby?

Ernest and Ellen Stevens pictured with their third son Sidney (Image: Submitted Picture)

Many may not realise but several Grimsby area people were captured during the war and imprisoned in these Japanese camps.

One such man was Sidney Ramsey Robert Stevens, who was born in Grimsby, September 1914.

He was the third son of trawler engineer Charles Ernest Stevens and his wife Ellen.

Sidney originally lived on Stanstead Street on the West Marsh, having attended the nearby Littlecoates Primary and Armstrong Street Schools.

A family remembers Sidney R R Stevens, a Japanese prisoner of war. From left are Sid's Nephew Chaz Stevens, and three of Sid's children; Michael Stevens, Annette Stevens and Anthony Stevens (Image: Jon Corken/Grimsby Live)

Around August 23, 1933, at the age of 19, Sid joined the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (known as The Loyals).

Painstaking research by his nephew Chaz Stevens has revealed Sid's service records and subsequent capture and rescue.

Chaz told Grimsby Live: "Everyone knew that during his army career he was captured by the Japanese at the fall of Singapore on February 15, 1942, but like most, he never talked about the war, nor his time as a Japanese prisoner of war."

The Christmas Card

The Christmas card which revealed Sidney Stevens had served overseas (Image: Submitted photo)

Amongst documents and artefacts found in an attic last year, that had once belonged to his mother and father, was a Regimental Crested Christmas Card.

"This was the first clue that he (Sidney) had served overseas at times and in places other than Singapore during the Second World War," explained Chaz.

The greeting written on the inside was: "To Dad from Sid, How is the old firm going. Good Luck. Your Son Sid".

The inside address was Great Western Road Camp, Shanghai and dated Christmas 1937.

Japan at war with China

Local Veterans parade the colours in a very misty People's Park, December 1982 (Image: Grimsby Telegraph)

In 1931, the Imperial Japanese Army was at war with China, after Japan conquered the northern province of Manchuria.

In 1932, Shanghai was attacked, even though war was not officially declared.

In October 1936, the Lancashire regiment was moved to Shanghai, to protect the international settlements there. The Sino-Japanese conflicts escalated and in July 1937, the Japanese began a full invasion.

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During a fierce three-month battle, Chinese and Japanese troops fought over a wide area around and within Shanghai. 2nd Loyals fought in the delaying action during the Battle of Malaya, designed to prevent further incursion by the Japanese.

This failed, and after long, drawn-out jungle warfare, the Japanese overcame British Dutch and Commonwealth troops, ending with the surrender of the Singapore garrison on February 15, 1942.

Prisoner of war

This chapel is dedicated to the memory of all POWs and internees who were incarcerated in the area of Changi, from 1942 to 1945. The chapel was hand-built using Tembusu wood as a main material of the Chapel. This replica was formerly located beside the Changi Prison and was later transferred and re-consecrated in its current location in February 2001 (Image: Daily Mirror)

Those captured including Sid were destined to spend the remainder of the war as prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Army.

Changi Gaol, built before the war to house 600 prisoners was instead crammed with 5,000. Eventually 12,000, men, women and children were imprisoned there, containing almost all the Singapore garrison, including the 2nd Loyals.

Bad food and sanitary conditions quickly led to outbreaks of dengue fever and dysentery and later, malaria and beri-beri - deaths averaged two a day.

Loyals were imprisoned there for several months before some were transferred to Korea and others to Thailand to work on the infamous Death Railway.

The index record card for Sidney Stevens (Image: Submitted photo)

Later in 1942, all those deemed fit for employment were moved to Thailand and deployed in constructing the Bangkok-Rangoon railway.

Sid was part of this forced labour and according to his index card was in Thailand I and Thailand II POW camps on the railway route, then transferred to the Philippines.

Camps were hundreds of miles from Allied territories and scattered across the Far East and escape was nearly impossible.

On the move

Hofuku Maru sailed from Singapore to the Phillipines with over 1,287 British and Dutch prisoners - including Sidney Stevens (Image: chippingnortonbritishlegion.com)

The Japanese began transporting POWs to work as forced labour in factories in Japan and other areas, via infamous 'Hell Ships', not marked with the Red Cross (as required by the Geneva International Convention).

On July 4, 1944, Hofoku Maru sailed from Singapore to the Phillipines with over 1,287 British and Dutch prisoners on board. The ship arrived 15 days later in Manila en route to Japan.

After engine problems the ship departed from Manilla on September 20, 1944 bound for Japan and reloaded with 1,289 British and Dutch prisoners aboard.

A day later, off Luzon, north of Subic Bay, Hofoku Maru was sunk by a torpedo from US aircraft of Task Group 38.

Sidney Stevens was born in Grimsby (Image: Submitted photo)

This was the only ship carrying POWs, and she sank in just 12 minutes.

At the time of the attack Sid was fortunately on deck, he along with others managed to swim almost 4 miles to shore, whilst other survivors were rescued by fishing boats.

Only 221 of the POWs survived the sinking, with 1,047 unable to escape from the holds.

The survivors were incarcerated with other mainly American POWs in camps in the Philippines - Sid ended up at the largest of these - Cabanatuan, designated for holding sick detainees.

The great raid

Sidney Stevens from Grimsby served with the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment (Image: Submitted photo)

By mid 1944, the course of the war had changed, as the US Forces took back the Philippines bit by bit and begin rescuing the captives.

A unit was specially formed using US Rangers and Alamo Scouts together with local Filipino Guerrilla Forces were to carry out a daring plan.

The rescue would take place 30 miles behind enemy lines a master stroke of military planning and execution, which became known as The Great Raid on Cabanatuan.

A P-61 Black Widow night fighter (Image: Publicity photo)

Forty-five minutes before the scheduled start of the attack on January 30, 1945, a P-61 Black Widow aircraft from the 547th Night Fighter Squadron flew over and nearby to the camp for circa 20 minutes.

The pilot repeatedly faked engine problems and flew so low that it appeared he was crashing thus distracting Japanese guards to allow the Rangers to creep right up to the perimeter and set men in predetermined positions around the camp.

A single shot signalled the start of the attack and within 15 seconds, all of the guard towers and pill boxes had been destroyed.

Sid gets rescued

The area of People's Park where the oak tree stands today (Image: Google)

All of the Japanese on the camp had been killed and, within 30 minutes, the evacuation of POWs including Sid began resulting in 489 POWs being liberated, along with 33 civilians.

Sid arrived home on April 2, 1945 and was discharged from the Army on June 12, 1945.

Not long after his return home and after some 12 years away, Sid wed Annie, the widow of his brother Fred.

Together they had four children, all of whom reside in Grimsby - Sid passed away in 1986, at the age of 71.

Thursday, January 30, 2020 marks the 75th Anniversary of The Great Raid on Cabanatuan.

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